nitroboarder22

so thanks to your help i just got my macbook pro
but now i cant figure out how to import video to imovie

do you have to use a firewire to import video into imovie?
because my camera only has a usb port

when i try to drag and drop the video from my camera into imovie the video just goes back to the camera and nothing happens

so if anyone could tell me what im doing wrong that would be good

WhistlerBound

Apple have some good online tutorials, including one on importing for iMovie. I don't have iMovie in front of me atm, so start with these: iMovie Tutorials

jmyers

Does your camera have an internal HD? If so, and you see the files when you plug the camera in via USB, in IMovie, go to File > Import - then navigate to your camera.

Hopefully this helps...

nitroboarder22

my camera is a hitachi dvd/hdd camera
so it can record on mini dvds and an 8gb hard drive so i have an internal hard drive and dvd in the same camera.
i tried it in the HDD and DVD mode and got that same thing.

the computer recognizes the camera but when i try to import it the way jmyers said i can see the files i want to import but they are faded and i cant click on them

also does anyone know how i can download imovie hd or imovie 06. i looked at apples website on their downloads page but i couldnt find anything.
so if someone could give me a link to download one of those that would help

jmyers

Here is the link.

Apple - Support - Downloads - iMovie HD 6

Another thing to try. YOu have to upgrade to Quicktime Pro, however you can convert the files in that, and IMovie should read them at that point.

I have a sony with an internal HD, and it is a real pain getting the files to recognize. This was the only thing that worked.

nitroboarder22

so i downloaded imovie hd and it still wont import.
it will start to import and then an error window pops up and says that quicktime could not parse the clip
is that what happened to you?

so if i pay the $30 to get quicktime pro it should work right?
i just want to make sure before i pay $30 for it

WhistlerBound

What model is your Hitachi camera?

nitroboarder22

its the DZHS300a

DVD/HDD Hybrid Camcorders

WhistlerBound

Unfortunately I don't think there's going to be an easy answer for this particular camera, and I can't test the processes that various people have suggested.

My first suggestion would be to download MPEG Streamclip (free) and see if that will recognise/play the video files you are trying to import. If it does, then you can use it to convert them to DV files that you can import into iMovie. Also, VLC (also free) has a transcode option which should do a similar thing, and it recognises a huge number of formats.

Worst case would be to export to the MiniDVD and then use the tools above to convert to a format that iMovie can import. The problem there is that the MiniDVD won't work with Mac slot-type DVD drives unless you have an adaptor of some sort.

The Hitachi DZHS300a makes the whole process harder than it should be, but it is possible.

Let me know how you go.

PS. jmyers Quicktime Pro option might work too, but the options above don't require you to spend any money to find out.